Capital city, Switzerland
Cost of living in Bern
How much a month costs in Bern
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $5,190–7,240 (CHF4,300–6,000).
Prices in Bern
Typical 2026 ranges in CHF, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CHF | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | CHF1,700–2,700 | $2,050–3,260 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | CHF1,300–2,000 | $1,570–2,410 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | CHF40–70 | $48–84 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | CHF150–270 | $181–326 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | CHF15–24 | $18–29 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | CHF35–58 | $42–70 |
| Cappuccino | CHF4–5 | $4.8–6.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | CHF5–8 | $6.0–9.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | CHF3–5 | $3.6–6.0 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | CHF25–40 | $30–48 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | CHF80–140 | $97–169 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | CHF20–45 | $24–54 |
Value for money: 2/100
A value score of 2/100 means Bern gives more quality of life per dollar than 1% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 85/100. It's the 4th most affordable of 12 places we cover in Switzerland.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Switzerland
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Lugano | $4,830–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Interlaken | $5,070–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Lucerne | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Bern | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Lausanne | $5,190–7,240 | 1/100 |
| Basel | $5,310–7,480 | 2/100 |
| Grindelwald | $5,430–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Montreux | $5,430–7,840 | 2/100 |
| Zurich | $5,790–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Geneva | $6,030–8,210 | — |
| Zermatt | $6,030–9,050 | 1/100 |
| St. Moritz | $6,640–9,650 | — |
Cheaper alternatives to Bern
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Sibiu | Romania | $1,160–1,690 |
| Santiago de Compostela | Spain | $1,580–2,250 |
| Toledo | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Córdoba | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Coimbra | Portugal | $1,800–2,590 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Bern?
About $3,020–3,980 on a lean budget, $5,190–7,240 for a comfortable month and $9,050–14,480 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Bern?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs CHF1,700–2,700 ($2,050–3,260) a month in the center and CHF1,300–2,000 ($1,570–2,410) outside it.
How much does food cost in Bern?
A local meal is CHF15–24 ($18–29); a mid-range restaurant is CHF35–58 ($42–70) per person.
Is Switzerland expensive?
Prices in Switzerland are about 112% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Bern
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.